Ceremony honors organ donors for giving gift of life

A candlelight vigil was held on Thursday to remember those who have given the gift of life.

The vigil, which was held at Spartanburg Regional, honored organ donors and their families during National Donate Life Month, which is happening this month.

Transplant recipients and families of organ donors and talked about the importance of organ donation.

According to Donate Life SC, every 11 minutes another person is added to the national transplant wait list.

Lisa Daw-Brewer lost her 18-year-old daughter, Esther Daw, in a car wreck last year. Daw-Brewer said her daughter made the decision to become an organ donor when she was only 15 years old, and after her death, Ester helped save three lives.

"As a family, we sat down and we talked about what it must of felt like for those families to get that call and what it would be like if we were in that position," Daw-Brewer said, "When we realized they were getting their miracle it was much easier for us to face"

For Kimberly Young, her story is much different. She received a heart transplant 25 months ago. She said her donor, 17-year-old Madison, saved her life.

"It's the most beautiful gift anyone could ever receive," Young said, "Knowing that without this beautiful gift, i wouldn't still be here makes it the perfect gift. I think its a one in a million, chance of a lifetime gift."